Media members asked Rutgers coach Kyle Flood as many questions Wednesday about the players who Rutgers did not get in recruiting as the ones that it did. (Ed Pagliarini/MyCentralJersey.com)

By Steve Edelson

PISCATAWAY — Kyle Flood exuded both pragmatism and frustration as he stood behind a podium in the Hale Center Wednesday and did what no head coach of a program in good standing with the NCAA has ever had to do, dutifully unveiling the remnants of a recruiting class where 13 players opted not to honor their verbal commitment.

The damage, self-inflicted or otherwise, is done, and Rutgers is left with no recruits rated four-stars or better by Rivals.com while Big Ten rival Ohio State picked up 16.

So having ridden out a six-month storm and absorbed the criticism, National Signing Day was Flood’s turn to join the conversation.

“I don’t think there’s any gray area in the definition of the word ‘commitment,’ ” he said. “I think what’s happened in college athletics right now is in recruiting we have a flawed system. And there’s some really good people like (former Texas coach) Mack Brown who are leading the charge to try to rectify that situation. But when you live in a world where you hear words like ‘soft commitment,’ I don’t really know what that means. Or on the other side of it words like ‘committable offer,’ I don’t really know what that means.

“I think we’ve put these young people in a very difficult position, and I think at times we put the coaches in a difficult position.”

In this particular case, a group of high school students changed their minds after internalizing things like bullying accusations by a former player and subsequent handling of them by the school, the recruitment of players at their positions, pressure from Rutgers not to visit other schools and a coaching staff upheaval.

At the heart of the debate about the program’s culpability in the recruiting fiasco has been its stance that players should not visit other schools after they’ve verbally committed to them. It was clearly a factor in soured courtship with DePaul Catholic safety Kiy Hester, a four-star recruit.

“As I’ve told many a recruit,” Flood said, “some day when you get engaged to who may be your future wife, if you give her a ring and say, ‘hey, listen, I would love to marry you in a year but, don’t worry, I’ll date a few other girls along the way,’ I’m not so sure that would go over so well.”

About Ryan Dunleavy

Ryan Dunleavy has covered Rutgers athletics for more than a decade, dating back to his days as a student at his alma mater. He became New Jersey Press Media’s Rutgers women’s basketball beat writer in 2009 and Rutgers football beat writer in 2013. Since joining the staff in 2004, the Morris County native also has covered the NFL, MLB, NBA, the Somerset Patriots and high school sports.

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About the Author

Jerry CarinoJerry Carino has covered sports for the Gannett New Jersey newspapers since 1996 and has been on the college basketball beat since 2003. A native of Old Bridge, he also teaches journalism at Kean University.E-mail Jerry

Josh NewmanJosh Newman has worked for the Press since September 2004 and began covering Shore Conference sports full time in September 2006. He is a 2004 graduate of Springfield College with a degree in communications/sports journalism.E-mail Josh

Ryan DunleavyRyan Dunleavy has covered Rutgers athletics for more than a decade, dating back to his days as a student at his alma mater. He became New Jersey Press Media’s Rutgers women’s basketball beat writer in 2009 and Rutgers football beat writer in 2013. Since joining the staff in 2004, the Morris County native also has covered the NFL, MLB, NBA, the Somerset Patriots and high school sports.E-mail Ryan